Chapter 7: Can a Mad Tyrant Be Forced? [7]

"Tsk, I just had his legs broken, so he can't come. If the Grand Preceptor wants to see him, I'll have him carried over right now."

Mu Jin lowered his gaze to stroke the little white cat, answering offhandedly, like he couldn't care less.

"But he's mine now. Even if the Grand Preceptor wants to show concern, you need to watch your boundaries."

"Oh? He's yours now?"

Yun Fuyue's tone changed, and a chill crept into his eyes.

Mu Jin was just a puppet for him and Mu Siyang—neither of them had ever really cared about him.

But he'd never let Mu Jin slip out of his control.

Of course, he knew that over the years, even though he and Mu Siyang had forced several people into Mu Jin's palace, Mu Jin had never touched a single one.

But now Mu Jin was telling him Ying Huaifeng was his!

To be fair, Ying Huaifeng, as the Holy Son of Miaojiang, did have a bewitchingly gorgeous look—way more striking than anyone he'd sent before.

The little emperor had always loved tormenting beauties, and with a face like that, the fact that he only got his legs broken instead of being dumped in the lotus pond...

Seems the little emperor really does favor him...

Yun Fuyue lowered his eyes, one hand holding the umbrella, the other on the wheelchair's push handle. He leaned in and spoke softly near Mu Jin's ear:

"As long as Your Majesty's happy."

Yun Fuyue stared at Mu Jin's profile. The thought that Mu Jin might actually like Ying Huaifeng—might have even already taken him in...

A hint of jealousy he didn't even notice crept into his voice.

"How about I send Your Majesty a few more beauties?"

Mu Jin had no idea what Yun Fuyue was thinking. He just felt the guy was way too close, his breath brushing against his ear as he talked, which annoyed him.

"In that case, thanks for the Grand Preceptor's kindness."

Mu Jin tilted his head a bit, putting some distance between them, and casually agreed before changing the subject.

"But surely the Grand Preceptor didn't go through all this trouble to invite me here just to gift me a few beauties."

Yun Fuyue caught Mu Jin's reaction to avoid him, and a wave of displeasure rose in his chest.

Was the little emperor really that scared of him?

His voice went cold: "Your Majesty reminds me—there is indeed something more important I summoned you here for today."

Mu Jin caught the displeasure in Yun Fuyue's tone and felt his wheelchair being pushed, wondering why Yun Fuyue was throwing a tantrum.

Yun Fuyue's gaze never left Mu Jin: "I heard Your Majesty's been unwell these past couple days. I just got a divine physician, so I'll have her take a good look at you."

He suddenly found himself wondering—even just looking at the little emperor's face, it was totally to his taste. How had he managed to go all these years without developing any other feelings for this man?

To the point that now, Yun Fuyue not only regretted sending Ying Huaifeng to Mu Jin, but also regretted everyone he'd sent before.

He didn't consider himself a saint, and he saw nothing wrong with the things Mu Jin had done or the people he'd killed in the past.

It was just a pity he'd only today developed the desire to possess this man.

If he'd realized it sooner, maybe the little emperor wouldn't be sitting in this wheelchair freezing right now, but lying on his soft couch instead...

A vision popped into Yun Fuyue's mind: Mu Jin wrapped in his brocade robe, lying obediently on the soft couch like a cat, reaching out to tug at his sleeve to keep him from leaving.

His throat tightened, and he stopped dead in his tracks.

The sudden stop made Mu Jin frown and let out a muffled grunt: "Mm...!"

Mu Jin tilted his head up and sneered at Yun Fuyue: "If the Grand Preceptor wants my life, just say it directly!"

The white cat in his arms also looked up: "Meow meow!"

Yun Fuyue watched the man and cat turn to look at him in perfect unison.

He thought, seems there's still time.

"Sorry for startling Your Majesty."

Yun Fuyue explained without changing his expression: "A black cat just ran across the path ahead."

Hearing the word "cat," Mu Jin rubbed the cat in his arms again, his expression softening a bit.

Oh, just a cat. Then it's fine.

Yun Fuyue watched Mu Jin stop being angry and continued pushing the wheelchair, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips. This little emperor was way too easy to appease.

Mu Jin had no idea Yun Fuyue had already mentally labeled him "easy to appease and easy to fool."

As Yun Fuyue led him into a room, he caught a familiar scent.

Mu Jin quickly realized it was very similar to the scent on Ying Huaifeng, though not as nice.

Just then, a young woman's voice reached his ears:

"Greetings to the Grand Preceptor, and to Your Majesty."

Yun Fuyue smiled: "Your Majesty, this is the divine physician I found for you, named Su Gantang. She's a bit free-spirited, but her medical skills are exceptional."

"Want me to have her take a look at you first?"

Mu Jin turned toward the voice and gave a faint nod, letting Su Gantang take his pulse.

After a moment, Su Gantang spoke respectfully: "Your Majesty's blindness is caused by a gu poison. I do have a method to treat it."

"However, besides herbal medicine as support, we'll need a catalyst to lure the gu worm out of Your Majesty's body for a full recovery."

Su Gantang paused briefly: "The catalyst should ideally be someone who can attract the gu worm... I've heard there's a former Holy Son of Miaojiang by Your Majesty's side. If he were used as the catalyst, it would be ideal."

Mu Jin immediately understood Yun Fuyue's intention. He ignored Su Gantang completely and turned to Yun Fuyue, speaking with an unreadable expression:

"I recall the Grand Preceptor also comes from Miaojiang."

Yun Fuyue smiled: "If Your Majesty wishes, I'd gladly offer myself to cure Your Majesty of the gu. However, the treatment will take some time, so I'm afraid I'll have to trouble Your Majesty to stay at the Grand Preceptor's residence for a while."

Mu Jin laughed coldly: "How could I bear to have the Grand Preceptor cure me?"

"But since it'll take some time, let this Miss Su enter the palace to attend to me."

In the past, Yun Fuyue would certainly not have refused, but now looking at Mu Jin, his heart skipped a beat, and he spoke again:

"Your Majesty, are you truly unwilling to stay?"

Mu Jin: "Why would I stay?"

Yun Fuyue: "The Imperial Tutor's estate has quite a few cats."

Mu Jin: "Oh, and what's that got to do with me?"

Yun Fuyue: "One of them can do a backflip."

Mu Jin: "Huh?"

A cat that can do a backflip? That actually sounds kinda interesting.

Su Gantang: "???"

Wait, who the hell would buy that?

If he wanted to keep the little emperor here with a lame trick like that, he might as well just have someone barge in and tie the kid up.

She grumbled to herself, then turned to see Mu Jin deep in thought.

Su Gantang: "..."

Wait, he's actually buying this?

Yun Fuyue said, completely deadpan: "If Your Majesty stays, once your eyes are better, you can have a good look."

Mu Jin went quiet. Mu Jin was conflicted.

Mu Jin: "In that case... I'll just take that cat back to the palace with me. The Imperial Tutor wouldn't be too attached to it, would he?"

Of course, Mu Jin knew Yun Fuyue was just using this as an excuse to keep him around.

But in his current situation, if he actually stayed here, he probably wouldn't even know how he died.

"Of course not. That cat's lucky to have caught Your Majesty's eye."

Yun Fuyue smiled and didn't push it further. After all, even if the little emperor didn't stay, it wouldn't stop him from going to the palace to find him.

What he'd set his sights on could only ever be his...